Saints

Saint Sebastian (Dabovich) was born the son of Serbian immigrants in San Francisco, California, in 1863. He studied theology in Kiev and Saint Petersburg, where he was tonsured a monk and ordained a hierodeacon in 1887. After completing his education,...

Saint Tatiana lived in Rome in the early 3rd century. She was raised a Christian and served as a deaconess. After her prayers resulted in the miraculous destruction of various idols and pagan temples, she was arrested and brutally tortured. Her...

Saint Willibrord was the first missionary to the Low Countries, in particular the Frisians in the north of the Netherlands. Born in Northumbria (northern England) in 658, he entered the monastic life at a young age following the death of his mother. He...

This historic Greek icon depicts the Apostle Luke the Evangelist. Renowned for his authorship of the third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, his accounts feature some of the most distinctive and renowned stories of Christ’s Incarnation and the...

Saint Clement was a monk, and later became bishop of Ancyra in Galatia. He suffered persecution for some 30 years until he was martyred under the reign of Diocletian and Maximian in 296. His feast is celebrated on January 23.

Eight days after the Resurrection, we celebrate the "excellent unbelief of Thomas," in the words of one Vesperal hymn for the feast. This unbelief led the Lord to offer proof, which brings all of us to the knowledge of the risen Savior as Lord and God.

Saint Gregory was born in Neocaesarea, and traveled throughout the Mediterranean region during his education. He was instructed in the faith by Origin. In the year 240 he became bishop of his home city, where only 17 Christians were living. By the time...

Saint Joseph lived in Syria in the 19th century. He was a priest who worked as a translator and editor of the Church Fathers' writings, desiring to bring their teachings to the faithful. In 1860, a wave of anti-Christian Druze riots swept through...

The venerable Onuphrius was a 4th century hermit who lived in the desert of Upper Egypt. He lived in the desert for over 60 years, and it is said he never received a single visitor, except for an angel who delivered the Eucharist to him every Sunday...

Saint Raphael was born in Beirut in 1860. He spent the first decades of his life traveling throughout the Middle East and Russia, gaining knowledge and experience as a clergyman. Father Raphael was called to America and established a parish in...

Saint Sisoes lived in the fourth century, and he was a contemporary of Saint Anthony the Great. When Saint Anthony died, Sisoes went to live in his cave. His ascetic labor carried him to the heights of spiritual purity, and he was given the gift of...

This Saint Valentine lived in Silistria (modern Bulgaria) in the 3rd century. He was a soldier in the Roman army, and when he was 30 years old, he confessed his faith in Christ, together with his brother Pasikrates. They were tortured and martyred...

This stunning historic Russian icon depicts Michael the Archangel in his role of “the Commander of Formidable Forces.” As captain of the bodiless hosts of heaven, he leads the charge against the evil one and his demonic forces. This icon...

This unique historic Byzantine icon of the 12th century depicts the Holy Michael in his role as defender of and intercessor for the church. Here, he greets a ‘lowly’ church warden (in comparison to the glorious archangel!) in response to...

This beautiful 12th century mosaic is from the Xenophontos Monastery on Mount Athos. It depicts Saint George raising his hands in prayer to Christ, who gives a blessing from heaven. Saint George, sometimes called...

Saint Rastislav was the second Prince of Great Moravia (today part of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary), reigning from 846 to 870. During his reign, he sought to free Moravia from the dominion of Eastern Francia under King Louis the...

Saint Agafya (Agatha) was the wife of Grand Duke Yuri II of Vladimir (1188-1238), and Theodora was their eight-year-old daughter. Grand Duke Yuri's rule saw the Mongols invade the lands of Kievan Rus. In the course of many battles, they gradually took...

Saint Sylvester served as the 32nd bishop of Rome after the death of the Apostles. He was not able to attend the First Ecumenical Council in 325 due to illness, but he sent representatives. He reposed later that year. His feast is celebrated on...

Saint Meletius (or Meletios or Melitius) was an Armenian. He became bishop of Sebaste in 357, but was later banished and he went to Syria. After the deposition of the Arian bishop of Antioch, the Orthodox and the Arian factions debated over who to...

Saint Metrophanes was raised by pagan parents but became a Christian at a young age. He became bishop of Byzantium in the year 315, and during his episcopacy Saint Constantine made Byzantium the capital of the Roman Empire, naming it New Rome. He was...

"I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is; you hold fast my name and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells." — Revelation 2:13 (RSV) Saint Antipas...

Saint Boniface lived during the reign of Emperor Diocletian (286-305). He was the servant of a ranking Roman woman named Aglais, but in truth they were living together in a sinful union. Boniface drank heavily and lived in hedonism, yet he was...

Saint Cosmas was a native of Jerusalem. He was the foster brother of Saint John of Damascus, having been adopted by his parents. The brothers entered the monastery of Saint Sabbas, where Cosmas achieved the heights of grace through his ascetic labor...

Saint Joasaph (or Ioasaph, Josaphat) was the son of King Abenner of India. He was brought to faith through Saint Barlaam the Desert-Dweller. They are commemorated together on November 19.

Saint Katherine (also spelled Catherine) was a Great Martyr who suffered in the year 305 at the hands of Maximinus of Alexandria. She is commemorated in the Slavic churches on November 24, the date of her martyrdom. In the Byzantine churches, she is...

Saint Theodore, known as "Graptus" ("the Branded") was the brother of Theophanes the Confessor. They were born in Palestine to righteous parents, and entered the great monastery of Saint Sabbas. The brothers lived during the iconoclastic period,...

Saint Chariton was born in Iconium in the 270s. He suffered greatly for the Faith, but was set free after the death of the Emperor Aurelian. He lived in the deserts of Palestine and brought many Jews and pagans to faith in Christ until his repose in...

Saint Mocius was a priest in Amphipolis of Thrace. One day, Mocius entered the temple of Dionysius and overturned the altar while the proconsul was offering a sacrifice. He was subjected to torture and finally beheaded in Byzantium in the year 288. He...

This historic icon from Mt. Athos features Saint Theophanes the Confessor, renowned for his faithfulness to the Church. Saint Theophanes the Confessor was the brother of Theodore the Branded. They were born in Palestine to righteous parents, and...

This historic icon of the Apostle Philip captures the humility and holiness of the renowned servant of Christ. Known for his missionary journeys and faithful service to the Church, he helped spread the Gospel into new regions after Pentecost...

Saint Hierotheus was the first bishop of Athens. He was a member of the Aeropagus (Mars Hill), and with Saint Dionysius, he was converted by Saint Paul. Together with the Apostles, he was present at the funeral of the Theotokos. He reposed in the first...

He brought Prince Joasaph of India to faith in Christ. They are commemorated together on November 19.

The holy New Martyr Dionysios was a monk of Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos. In 1822, he was sent to Crete with the holy Belt of the Theotokos admidst an epidemic that was ravaging the island. A revolution had broken out on the island against the...

Saint Eugene was one of the five companions who were martyred for Christ under Diocletian. For his part, Eugene's tongue was cut out, his hands and feet were cut off, and he was finally beheaded. He suffered about the year 300. His feast is celebrated...

Saint Theodore was born in Constantinople to wealthy and pious Christian parents. When he was old enough, he left everything behind and entered a monastery in Thrace, west of Constantinople. He rejected his former comfortable lifestyle and wore only an...

Saint Andrew was born about the year 650 in Damascus, Syria. At the age of 14 he joined the Monastery of St. Sabbas the Sanctified in Jerusalem. Known for his virtue, he became the secretary of the Patriarch of Jerusalem, and attended the Sixth...

After the deaths of the 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia, Bishop Anthimus fled to care for his remaining flock. When the soldiers found him, he pretended to be someone else and treated the soldiers kindly, offering them food and lodging. He revealed himself...

The Apostle James, Son of Alphaeus, was the brother of the Apostle Matthew. After Pentecost, he and the Apostle Andrew preached throughout Palestine, healed the sick, and converted many to Christ. Saint James was finally crucified by pagans in Egypt...

Saint Hypatius attended the First Ecumenical Council, where he boldly defended the Faith against the Novatian heresy, the false doctrine that a person could not be forgiven of sins committed after baptism. He was captured by their sect and martyred in...

Saint Pancratius lived during the time of the Apostles, and he came to Christ through Saint Peter. They traveled together to Sicily, where Saint Paul was preaching at that time. Together they made Pancratius bishop of Taormina, and through his...